Underground inclinometer system

ABSTRACT

The underground inclinometer system includes a probe having a displacement measurement sensor measuring displacement of the ground, a cable controller controlling the length of a cable inserted into the ground to move the probe within an inclinometer pipe, and a ground displacement calculator calculating the displacement of the ground by using displacement measurement information measured by the probe and information on the length of the cable controlled by the cable controller.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This U.S. non-provisional patent application claims priority under 35U.S.C. § 119 of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0032991, filed onMar. 16, 2017, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated byreference.

DESCRIPTION Technical Field

The present invention disclosed herein relates to an instrument forconstruction and civil engineering work, and more particularly, to anunderground inclinometer inserted into the ground so as to measuredisplacement of the ground.

Background Art

Underground inclinometers are used to determine the safety of groundrelaxation areas and temporary structures by measuring the location,direction, size, and speed of each of a horizontal or verticaldisplacement of soil particles due to other influences such ascavitation at the time of excavation or filling and displacement of anunderground water level, comparing the measured location, direction,size, and speed with estimated design displacements, and examining thecomparison results.

Underground inclinometers are mainly used to measure displacement inexcavation work such as subway construction or sheathing work, measuredeformation of piers and abutments, measure estimated slip surfaces ofslopes, and measure displacement of tunnels, vertical mines, dams, andother various embankments.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a service state of a conventionalunderground inclinometer. A normal underground slope measurement methodinserts an inclinometer probe 11 into an underground hole and measures aslope for each depth while pulling up a measurement cable 14, asillustrated in FIG. 1.

The probe 11 has a displacement sensor 12 and spring wheels 13, and thecable 14 has a connection part 15 for connection with the probe 11. Theprobe 11 is moved by using the cable 14, and the cable 14 is adjusted inlength by being wound or unwound from a drum 16 by the force of a personor a machine such that the location of the probe 11 is changed.

Wirings, through which power and data can move, are provided inside thecable 14 to supply the power from the outside to the probe 11 andtransmit measured data to an external output device 17.

For use of the underground inclinometer, the cable 14 is supported by acable support device 18 to be repeatedly wound or unwound from the drum16.

Such a repeated operation causes the cable 14 to be damaged. Since thecable 14 of the related art has the wirings thereinside, the cable 14can be damaged more easily. The cost of the cable is expensive, andthus, the replacement cost increases. More energy is consumed formovement of the probe 11 because the wirings increase the weight of thecable 14.

Further, the cable cannot be easily replaced once damaged, so that thetime or cost significantly increase, and it is difficult to accuratelyadjust the location of the probe 11 because the position of the probe 11is adjusted according to the length of the cable.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Technical Problem

The present invention provides an underground inclinometer system, whichis light and inexpensive and hardly damages a cable.

The present invention also provides an underground inclinometer systemcapable of measuring an accurate probe location regardless ofdeformation of the cable.

Technical Solution

In accordance with an exemplar embodiment, an underground inclinometersystem includes: a probe having a displacement measurement sensorconfigured to measure displacement of the ground; a cable controllerconfigured to control the length of a cable inserted into the ground tomove the probe within an inclinometer pipe; and a ground displacementcalculator configured to calculate the displacement of the ground byusing displacement measurement information measured by the probe andinformation on the length of the cable controlled by the cablecontroller.

The probe includes a sensor power supply unit, a displacement storageunit, and a ground displacement measurement time information acquisitionunit. The sensor power supply unit supplies power to the displacementmeasurement sensor. The displacement storage unit stores a displacementmeasurement value measured by the displacement measurement sensor. Theground displacement measurement time information acquisition unitacquires ground displacement measurement time information of thedisplacement measurement sensor.

The ground displacement calculator includes a cable length measurementunit and a cable length measurement time information acquisition unit.The cable length measurement unit measures the length of the cablecontrolled by the cable controller. The cable length measurement timeinformation acquisition unit acquires cable length measurement timeinformation of the cable length measurement unit.

By such a configuration, the cable of an underground inclinometer may bemade lighter, cheaper, and more difficult to break because internalwirings may be removed from the cable adjusting the location of theprobe. The displacement of the ground may be accurately measured evenwhen the cable is deformed or replaced.

The ground displacement calculator may further include: a probe powersupply unit configured to supply the power to the sensor power supplyunit when the probe approaches within a preset distance; and a storageinformation reception unit configured to receive storage information ofthe displacement storage unit when the probe approaches within thepreset distance. By such a configuration, the supply of the power to theprobe or the acquisition of the information from the probe may be easilyperformed by carrying out communications and power charging by wire orwireless when the probe rises to the around surface.

The underground inclinometer system may further include a probeacceleration measurer configured to measure the acceleration of theprobe. By such a configuration, abnormal data may be prevented frombeing measured by the probe being vibrated.

The underground inclinometer system may further include a displacementcalculator acceleration measurer configured to measure the accelerationof the displacement calculator. By such a configuration, the abnormaldata may be prevented from being measured by the probe due to vibrationson the ground.

The cable controller may stop change of the length of the cable when theacceleration of the displacement calculator is above a preset criterion.By such a configuration, when vibrations occur on the ground, the probemay measure changes in the ground after the vibrations by stoppingmovement of the probe.

The probe may further include: rotating bodies each moving whilerotating in contact with an inner surface of the inclinometer pipe; anda rotational amount measurement unit configured to measure a rotationalamount of the rotating body. By such a configuration, the changes in theground may be measured when the movement of the probe through theinclinometer pipe stops even when vibrations occur in the probe byidentifying the movement of the probe through the inclinometer pipe froma rotational amount of the rotating body.

The rotational amount measurement unit may include: magnetic fieldgeneration parts formed in partial areas of the rotating body so as togenerate a magnetic field while rotating according to the rotating ofthe rotating body; and a rotational speed calculation part configured tomeasure the magnetic field so as to calculate a rotational speed of therotating body. The rotational amount measurement unit may also measuredisplacement of a rotating angle of the rotating body so as to measurethe rotational amount of the rotating body.

The probe further may further include: a probe location calculation unitconfigured to calculate the location of the probe by using informationon the rotational amount of the rotating body. By such a configuration,the location of the probe may be identified by using the rotationalamount of the rotating body provided in the probe, independently of theinformation on the length of the cable.

The magnetic field generation parts may be respectively formed in aplurality of areas asymmetrical in a rotational direction of therotating body with respect to a rotating axis of the rotating body. Inparticular, the magnetic field generation parts may be respectivelyformed in two areas having distances varying therebetween in therotational direction of the rotating body with respect to the rotatingaxis of the rotating body. By such a configuration, the location of theprobe may be identified more accurately by identifying the rotationaldirection of the rotating body even with a simple structure.

The probe location calculation unit may calculate the location of theprobe from the rotational speeds of the rotating bodies calculated forthe rotating bodies different from each other. By such a configuration,various unexpected error factors which may occur in one rotating bodymay be easily corrected.

Advantageous Effects

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a cable of an undergroundinclinometer may be made lighter, cheaper, and more difficult to breakbecause internal wirings may be removed from the cable adjusting thelocation of a probe. Further, displacement of the ground may beaccurately measured even when the cable is deformed or replaced.

Further, supply of power to a probe acquisition of information from theprobe may be easily performed by carrying out communications and powercharging by wire or wireless when the probe rises to the ground surface.

Further, abnormal data which may be measured by the probe being vibratedmay be prevented.

Further, when vibrations occur on the ground, the abnormal data whichmay be measured by the probe may be prevented.

Further, when vibrations occur on the ground, the probe may measurechanges in the ground after the vibrations by stopping movement of theprobe.

Further, the changes in the ground may be measured when the movement ofthe probe through an inclinometer pipe stops even when vibrations occurin the probe by identifying the movement of the probe through theinclinometer pipe from a rotational amount of a rotating body.

Further, the location of the probe may be identified by using therotational amount of the rotating body independently of information onthe length of the cable.

Further, the location of the probe may be accurately identified byidentifying a rotational direction of the rotating body even with asimple structure.

Further, various unexpected error factors which may occur in onerotating body may be easily corrected.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a service state of a conventionalunderground inclinometer;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an underground inclinometersystem in accordance with an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of use of the underground inclinometer systemof FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a rotating body and magnetic fieldgeneration parts formed inside the rotating body of FIG. 2; and

FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic views of examples of a probe of FIG. 2.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be describedhereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of an underground inclinometersystem in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, and FIG. 3 is aschematic view of use of the underground inclinometer system of FIG. 2.

In FIG. 2, an underground inclinometer system 100 includes: a probe 110having a displacement measurement sensor measuring displacement of theground; a cable controller 120 controlling the length of a cableinserted into the ground to move the probe 110 within an inclinometerpipe; a ground displacement calculator 130 calculating the displacementof the ground by using displacement measurement information measured bythe probe 110 and information on the length of the cable controlled bythe cable controller; a probe acceleration measurer 140; and adisplacement calculator acceleration measurer 150.

The probe 110 includes a sensor power supply unit 111, a displacementstorage unit 112, a ground displacement measurement time informationacquisition unit 113, rotating bodies 114, a rotational amountmeasurement unit 115, and a probe location calculation unit 116, and theground displacement calculator 130 includes a cable length measurementunit 132, a cable length measurement time information acquisition unit134, a probe power supply unit 136, and a storage information receptionunit 138.

The sensor power supply unit 111 supplies power to the displacementmeasurement sensor measuring the displacement of the ground. Thedisplacement storage unit 112 stores a displacement measurement valuemeasured by the displacement measurement sensor. The ground displacementmeasurement time information acquisition unit 113 acquires grounddisplacement measurement time information of the displacementmeasurement sensor.

The cable length measurement unit 132 measures the length of the cablecontrolled by the cable controller 120, and the cable length measurementtime information acquisition unit 134 acquires cable length measurementtime information of the cable length measurement unit 132.

In this case, the cable length measurement unit 132 may be provided as arotating encoder capable of identifying a length by which the cable(wire) is wound or unwound, and even when the cable is deformed, thecable length measurement unit 132 may perform the measurement whilemaintaining a predetermined interval.

The ground displacement calculator 130 calculates the displacement ofthe ground by using the displacement measurement information measured bythe probe 110 and the information on the length of the cable controlledby the cable controller 120. In this case, the ground displacementcalculator 130 synchronizes time measured by the ground displacementmeasurement time information acquisition unit 113 and the cable lengthmeasurement time information acquisition unit 134.

By such a configuration, the cable of an underground inclinometer may bemade lighter, cheaper, and more difficult to break because internalwirings may be removed from the cable adjusting the location of theprobe 110. Further, the displacement of the ground may be accuratelymeasured even when the cable is deformed or replaced.

The probe power supply unit 136 supplies the power to the sensor powersupply unit 111 when the probe approaches within a preset distance, andthe storage information reception unit 138 receives storage informationof the displacement storage unit 112 when the probe 110 approacheswithin the preset distance.

The power supply or information transmission may be implemented so as tobe performed while the probe 110 and the ground displacement calculator130 are in physical contact with each other, but may also be implementedso as to be performed while the probe 110 and the ground displacementcalculator 130 are spaced apart from each other by a short distance.When the power supply and information transmission are performed whilethe probe 110 and the ground displacement calculator 130 are spacedapart from each other, the probe power supply unit 136 and the storageinformation reception unit 138 may be provided so as to be spaced apartfrom each other by a predetermined interval to prevent a mutualinterference therebetween.

By such a configuration, the supply of the power to the probe 110 or theacquisition of the information measured from the probe 110 may be easilyperformed by carrying out communications and power charging by wire orwireless when the probe 110 rises to the ground surface.

The probe acceleration measurer 140 measures the acceleration of theprobe 110. The probe acceleration measurer 140 may be provided as anacceleration sensor provided in the probe 110 and may also be providedto store the measured displacement of the ground only when the measuredacceleration is below a preset criterion. By such a configuration,abnormal data may be prevented from being measured by the probe 110being vibrated.

The displacement calculator acceleration measurer 150 measures theacceleration of the displacement calculator 130. The displacementcalculator acceleration measurer 150 may be provided as an accelerationsensor provided in a cable driving device (drum) and measures groundvibrations in the displacement calculator 130 that may occur due tosurrounding traffic conditions or the like.

By such a configuration, when vibrations occur on the ground, theabnormal data which may be measured by the probe may be prevented. Inparticular, when the probe 110 is near the ground surface, the effect iseven greater.

The cable controller 120 stops change of the length of the cable whenthe acceleration of the displacement calculator 130 is above a presetcriterion. By such a configuration, when vibrations occur on the ground,the cable controller 120 may stop movement of the probe 110 through thecable length control such that the probe 110 may measure changes in theground after the vibrations.

The rotating bodies each move while rotating in contact with an innersurface of the inclinometer pipe. In this case, the rotating body 114may be provided as a spring wheel or the like provided in the probe 110.Magnetic field generation parts 200 are formed in partial areas of therotating body 114 so as to generate a magnetic field while rotatingaccording to the rotating of the rotating body 114. In this case, themagnetic field generation parts 200 may be respectively formed in aplurality of areas asymmetrical in a rotational direction of therotating body 114 with respect to a rotating axis of the rotating body114.

In particular, the magnetic field generation parts 200 may berespectively formed in two areas having distances varying therebetweenin the rotational direction of the rotating body 114 with respect to therotating axis of the rotating body 114. By such a configuration, thelocation of the probe 110 may be identified more accurately byidentifying the rotational direction of the rotating body even with asimple structure.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a rotating body and magnetic fieldgeneration parts formed inside the rotating body of FIG. 2. In FIG. 5,two magnetic field generation areas 210 and 220 are formed inside therotating body 114. By such a configuration, rotation of a wheel may berecognized even with a simple structure because it is not required toprovide the rotating bodies 114 with an additional power supply orcommunication device.

In particular, it can be seen that the two magnetic field generationareas 210 and 220 are formed to have distances varying therebetween inthe rotational direction. That is, it can be seen that distance A anddistance B are not equal. By such a configuration, the rotationaldirection of the rotating body 114 may be identified by using only adifference in detection time between magnetic fields generated from thetwo magnetic field generation areas 210 and 220.

The rotational amount measurement unit 115 measures the generatedmagnetic fields so as to calculate a rotational speed of the rotatingbody 114. The rotational amount measurement unit 115 may identify therotating of the rotating body 114 on the basis of changes in theintensity of the magnetic field that periodically change according tothe rotating of the rotating body 114 and may determine the number oftimes of repetition of a change period as the rotational speed of therotating body 114.

The rotational amount of the rotating body 114 may be indirectlymeasured as described above and may also be directly measured by usingan encoder provided inside or outside thereof In this case, therotational amount of the rotating body may be measured by measuringdisplacement of a rotating angle of the rotating body 114.

The probe location calculation unit 116 calculates the location of theprobe 110 by using the calculated rotational amount of the rotating body114. In this case, the probe location calculation unit 116 may calculatethe location of the probe 110 from the rotational speeds of the rotatingbodies calculated for the rotating bodies 114 different from each other.By such a configuration, various unexpected error factors which mayoccur in one rotating body 114 may be easily corrected.

The current location of the probe 110 may be calculated by using therotational speed of the rotating body 114 on the basis of a presetpoint. When the rotational speeds are respectively measured for therotating bodies 114, an unexpected error situation such as a slip may berecognized and the current location may be accurately measured by usingrotational speeds measured from the other rotating bodies even when theunexpected error situation occurs in some of the rotating bodies.

All components of the probe 110 may be provided such that the componentsare included inside the probe 110 to be integrally formed, and may alsobe provided such that the components are formed to have a conventionalprobe structure including a displacement sensor and a structureconnected between the conventional probe structure and the cable andincluding the other components of the probe 110 except the displacementsensor so as to be connected to each other by a probe connection part117.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic views of examples of a probe of FIG. 2. FIG.5 illustrate an example in which the probe 110 includes a displacementsensor d is integrated therewith, and FIG. 6 illustrates an example inwhich a structure including the remaining components of the probe 110 iscoupled to the conventional structure of the probe 110 including adisplacement sensor.

It can be seen that FIG. 5 does not illustrate the probe connection part117 illustrated in FIG. 6, and the magnetic field generation parts 200are formed in the spring wheels 114 of the probe 110 itself.

Although the present invention has been described by some preferredembodiments, the scope of the present invention is not limited thereto,and covers modifications or improvements in the embodiments supported bythe claims.

1. An underground inclinometer system comprising: a probe comprising adisplacement measurement sensor configured to measure displacement ofthe ground; a cable controller configured to control the length of acable inserted into the ground to move the probe within an inclinometerpipe; and a ground displacement calculator configured to calculate thedisplacement of the ground by using displacement measurement informationmeasured by the probe and information on the length of the cablecontrolled by the cable controller, wherein the probe comprises: asensor power supply unit configured to supply power to the displacementmeasurement sensor; a displacement storage unit configured to store adisplacement measurement value measured by the displacement measurementsensor; and a ground displacement measurement time informationacquisition unit configured to acquire ground displacement measurementtime information of the displacement measurement sensor, and the grounddisplacement calculator comprises: a cable length measurement unitconfigured to measure the length of the cable controlled by the cablecontroller; and a cable length measurement time information acquisitionunit configured to acquire cable length measurement time information ofthe cable length measurement unit.
 2. The underground inclinometersystem of claim 1, wherein the ground displacement calculator furthercomprises: a probe power supply unit configured to supply the power tothe sensor power supply unit when the probe approaches within a presetdistance; and a storage information reception unit configured to receivestorage information of the displacement storage unit when the probeapproaches within the preset distance.
 3. The underground inclinometersystem of claim 2, further comprising a probe acceleration measurerconfigured to measure the acceleration of the probe.
 4. The undergroundinclinometer system of claim 3, further comprising a displacementcalculator acceleration measurer configured to measure the accelerationof the displacement calculator.
 5. The underground inclinometer systemof claim 4, wherein the cable controller stops change of the length ofthe cable when the acceleration of the displacement calculator is abovea preset criterion.
 6. The underground inclinometer system of claim 5,wherein the probe further comprises: rotating bodies each moving whilerotating in contact with an inner surface of the inclinometer pipe; anda rotational amount measurement unit configured to measure a rotationalamount of the rotating body.
 7. The underground inclinometer system ofclaim 6, wherein the probe further comprises: a probe locationcalculation unit configured to calculate the location of the probe byusing information on the rotational amount of the rotating body.
 8. Theunderground inclinometer system of claim 7, wherein the rotationalamount measurement unit comprises: magnetic field generation partsformed in partial areas of the rotating body so as to generate amagnetic field while rotating according to the rotating of the rotatingbody; and a rotational speed calculation part configured to measure themagnetic field so as to calculate a rotational speed of the rotatingbody.
 9. The underground inclinometer system of claim 8, wherein themagnetic field generation parts are respectively formed in a pluralityof areas asymmetrical in a rotational direction of the rotating bodywith respect to a rotating axis of the rotating body.
 10. Theunderground inclinometer system of claim 9, wherein the magnetic fieldgeneration parts are respectively formed in two areas having distancesvarying therebetween in the rotational direction of the rotating bodywith respect to the rotating axis of the rotating body.
 11. Theunderground inclinometer system of claim 10, wherein the probe locationcalculation unit calculates the location of the probe from therotational speeds of the rotating bodies calculated for the rotatingbodies different from each other.
 12. The underground inclinometersystem of claim 11, wherein the rotational amount measurement unitmeasures displacement of a rotating angle of the rotating body so as tomeasure the rotational amount of the rotating body.